Endoscope-pipe

ABSTRACT

An endoscope pipe with a central, elongated observation window on the distal end, whereby several light outlet openings for fiberoptic end surfaces are positioned close to the observation window for illuminating the angle area observed through the observation window and the light outlet openings are positioned asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the observation window and/or the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outlet openings in such a way that light is beamed from the fiberoptic end surfaces into the angle area in various directions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/817,723, which claimedpriority of German patent application No. 10 2009 025 659.8 filed onJun. 17, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an endoscope pipe. Endoscope pipes are parts ofendoscopes that have applications especially in the field of minimallyinvasive surgery on humans or animals and, in rare cases, also in thefield of technology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known endoscopes in the art that are configured in tubularform with pronounced length and are equipped on their distal end with anobservation window, through which, in the case of an operation, it ispossible to look into the surgical area situated in front of the distalend. Endoscopic instruments to perform surgical manipulation in theoperating area can be inserted in the endoscope pipe through optionaladditional working channels. In addition, the end of the endoscope pipecomprises one or more light outlet openings, which are positioned aroundthe round observation window and the openings of the working channels,it is common knowledge in the art to provide the light outlet openingsfor reception of fiberoptics, from whose end surfaces light emerges, sothat a reliable illumination of the working areas is provided. Theobservation window is not necessarily required to be of circularconfiguration. These known endoscope pipes, in fact, typicallydemonstrate an unpleasantly non-homogeneous illumination of the workingarea, specifically in their use of non-circular illumination windows.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an endoscope pipewhich ensures appropriate characteristics, so that the homogeneity ofthe illumination is improved, by taking into account the cross-sectionof the endoscope pipe and the shape of the distal end of the endoscopetube for the sake of a reliable and secure handling during surgicaluses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved in one respect, through an endoscope pipe with acentral, longitudinally extended observation window on the distal endand several light outlet openings, positioned close to the observationwindow, for fiberoptic end surfaces of fiberoptics for illuminating asolid angle area observed through the observation window, wherein thelight outlet openings are positioned distributed along the longitudinalextension of the observation window and arranged asymmetrically to thelongitudinal axis of the observation window. Advantageous elaborationsof the inventive endoscope pipe are the subject of the subsidiaryclaims.

In another respect, the above mentioned objects are achieved through anendoscope pipe with a central, longitudinally extended observationwindow on the distal end and several light outlet openings, positionedclose to the observation window, for fiberoptic end surfaces forilluminating the solid angle area observed through the observationwindow, wherein the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outletopenings in such a way that light radiates out of the light outletsurfaces into the solid angle area in various directions.

A surprising discovery has been the fact that through an appropriatechoice of arrangement or configuration of the light outlet openingsaround the elongated observation window, which is centrally positionedon the distal end of the endoscope pipe, it becomes possible to have aclearly improved and largely homogeneous illumination of the observedangle of vision, which need not necessarily contain the entire opticalacquisition area.

In this regard it has proved especially effective to position theexisting light outlet openings along the elongated shape of theobservation window, so that the distribution shall occur asymmetricallyto the longitudinal axis of the observation window. Thanks to thisasymmetrical, i.e. non-uniform, arrangement of the light outletopenings, a very well-distributed homogenized distribution becomespossible. This is particularly the case when, along the length of theobservation window, there has been an alternating arrangement of thelight outlet windows, so that one on the right is followed by one on theleft and so on, and in particular, in addition, the distances from thelongitudinal center axis of the observation window or the distancesalong the length are varied or the areas of the light outlet openingsare varied. The desired homogenization of the light distribution issuccessfully achieved thanks to this defined and deliberatenon-homogenization of the arrangement of the light outlet openings thatare situated only along the longitudinal extension of the observationwindow. A successful alternative has been to position and configure thefiberoptic end surfaces in the light outlet openings in such a way thatthe light descends from these in various directions into the workingarea or illumination area and in a predetermined solid angle area, sothat this area is as homogeneously illuminated as possible.Surprisingly, the desired improved homogenization of the illumination isachieved as a result of these differentiations of the illuminationdirections, which include a non-homogenization of the illuminationdirections.

As a result of the inventive arrangement of the light outlet openingsexclusively along the longitudinal extension of the observation windows,a relatively high number of outlet openings can successfully be selectedand thereby a very good brightness can be achieved with good homogeneityin accordance with the invention. The inventive endoscope pipe thusproves itself well suited for difficult operations that require a highlyreliable and good observation of the working area. The twoaforementioned concepts have proved especially advantageous—first, thenon-homogeneous distribution of the light outlet openings along thelongitudinal extension of the observation windows and, second, thenon-homogeneous selection of emission directions from the fiberoptic endsurfaces of the light outlet openings. Through this combination, anespecially efficient and homogeneous illumination of the relevantworking area becomes possible. In addition, through this combination,the advantages of both concepts can be linked and moreover a decidedlycloser arrangement of the light outlet openings becomes possible, alongwith either a reduction of the diameter of the endoscope pipe in case ofpredetermined light quantity for illuminating the relevant workingareas, or conversely, in case of a predetermined diameter of theendoscope pipe, an increased light quantity. Either situation results inan increase in the possible application area of the inventive endoscopepipe compared with the endoscope pipe previously known in the art.

It has proved especially effective here to determine the emissiondirection for the light from the light outlet openings on the basis ofhaving a prism or a holographic element positioned in the area of thefiberoptic end surfaces, by means of which the desired modification ofthe emission direction in relation to the light outlet opening from thefiberoptic end surface is determined. Owing to this arrangement of aprism or of a holographic element, it becomes possible, in a verydefined and predetermined manner through the choice of prism or theconfiguration of the holographic element, to ensure a reliable andsecure diversion of the light beam emerging from the fiberoptics intothe desired direction for creating a distribution that is as homogeneousas possible, it has also proved effective here to use a prism or aholographic element for several neighboring fiberoptic end surfacestogether. Consequently, on the one hand, it is possible to achieve avery compact structure and simple manufacturing along with secure,uniform deflection. The result is a very cost-effective realization ofthe inventive endoscope pipe. Alternatively or in addition, it hasproved effective to configure the end surfaces of the fiberoptic orfiberoptics in such a way that the surface cuts the longitudinal axis ofthe fiberoptic at an angle not equal to 90 degrees. Through the choiceof angle, a well-defined deflection of the emerging light becomespossible into the desired direction, varying according to the lightoutlet opening, it has proved especially advantageous here to combineseveral fiberoptics into one fiberoptic bundle and to cement themtogether in the light outlet opening and to configure the end surface ofthis bundle of fiberoptic ends and cement in such a way, in particularby grinding, that the surface becomes flat in part, and the desiredangle of the fiberoptic end surfaces is achieved with respect to thelongitudinal extension of the fiberoptics. This configuration ensures,on the one hand, that end surfaces very efficiently enable thetransition from the optically thicker material to the environment in thedesired emission direction and, on the other hand, that that there is astrongly insulated sealing of the light outlet opening and thereby ofthe interior space of the endoscope pipe. Thanks to this inventiveinsulating effect, sterilization in the manner of autoclaving finallybecomes a realistic possibility.

It has proved especially advantageous to position the prism or prisms,or the holographic element or elements, between the fiberoptic endsurfaces and the light outlet openings, and to cement these as a unittogether with the fiberoptics. It has proved effective here to use anoptically inactive cement that has an index of refraction correspondingto that of the fiberoptics or of the prism or of the holographicelement.

The observation window is advantageously in the form of a curvedobservation window, in particular with a cylindrical dome, because theshaft is curved in the direction of the longitudinal extension of theshaft. This configuration makes it possible to increase the length ofthe observation window and thereby the area for positioning the lightoutlet openings and consequently to ensure a more extensive homogeneousillumination of the working area in the area in front of and to thesides of the distal end of the endoscope. As a result of the curvedconfiguration of the endoscope window, the observation range of theendoscope is also considerably enlarged through the correspondingconfiguration of the lens below the observation window. The result is avery effective and useful endoscope pipe.

Container sleeves are preferably provided in the light outlet surfaces,to direct the fiberoptics and fiberoptic end surfaces which in turnallows an adjustment of the desired emission direction of the light fromthe light outlet openings in simple, reliable manner.

The present invention is described in greater detail hereafter withreference to the illustrations of one selected example of the invention.The invention is not restricted to this illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the distal end of the inventive endoscopepipe.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the distal end of the inventive endoscopepipe.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of individual fiberopticsand individually configured fiberoptic end surfaces.

FIGS. 4-6 show examples of components inside of the light outletopenings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows in a diagonal view the distal end 1 of the inventiveendoscope pipe. Shown at the center is the observation window 2, whichis longitudinally extended in configuration and is positioned at thecenter in the area of the distal end 1. The observation window 2 here isconfigured as continuously curved, so that the curve extends similarlyto a cylinder in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope pipe. Theobservation window here shows an essentially rectilinear shape, which isconfigured as essentially cylindrically curved.

The light outlet openings 3 are positioned along the longitudinalextension of the observation window 2. There are a total of eight lightoutlet openings, which are positioned opposite one another andasymmetrically to the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal axis ofthe observation window. They are placed at varying distances from thelongitudinal axis or are offset in alternation along the longitudinalaxis of the observation window 2. These eight light outlet surfaces areof similar configuration. Positioned in these light outlet surfaces area bundle of fiberoptic end surfaces, which are cemented together so thatthe light outlet surfaces are configured as insulated against gas andfluids and thus are autoclavable.

Because of the asymmetrical arrangement of the light outlet openings 3along the observation window 2, it becomes possible, first, to emit thelight from the fiberoptic end surfaces in various spatial directions, inparticular because of the aforementioned dome of the end area with theobservation window 2 of the distal end 1 of the inventive endoscopepipe, and, second, because of this offset arrangement, thenon-homogeneous arrangement of the light outlet openings, to create ahomogenized illumination of the working and observation area for amicro-invasive intervention.

FIG. 2 presents a view from the front toward the circular endoscope pipewith the distal end 1 and the observation window 2 as described.Laterally, at varying distances, various light outlet openings 3 arepositioned along the longitudinal extension of the observation window 2.As a result of the non-homogeneous arrangement of the observation window2, the desired homogenization of the illumination of the working area isachieved.

FIG. 3 shows examples of fiberoptics 5. The fiberoptics 5 end infiberoptic end surfaces 4. The fiberoptic end surfaces 4 constitutelevel surfaces that are at a defined angle to the longitudinal extensionof the fiberoptic 5. It has proved especially preferential to configureindividual fiberoptic end surfaces 4, or all fiberoptic end surfaces 4,at an angle not equal to 90 degrees and thereby to ensure anillumination by the emitted lights that is diagonal or at apredetermined angle from the longitudinal extension 8 of the fiberoptic5. Through the choice of angle, very carefully differentiatedillumination scenarios can be created to achieve the most homogeneouspossible illumination of the working area, in certain embodiments, thelight is broken at the fiberoptic end surfaces, so that the fiberopticend surfaces form an angle not equal to 90 degrees to a longitudinalaxis of the fiberoptics. “Light is broken” is defined to mean“refracted.”

FIG. 4 shows an example of the inside of the light outlet openings 3. InFIG. 4, a prism 7 is shown between the fiberoptic end surfaces 4 and thelight outlet openings 3. FIG. 5, a holographic element 8 is shownbetween the fiberoptic end surfaces 4 and the light outlet openings 3.In FIG. 8, a sleeve 9 is shown between the fiberoptic end surfaces 4 andthe light outlet openings 3. In certain embodiments, the prism 7,holographic element 8 and sleeve 9 are cemented together as a unit withthe fiberoptics 5.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An endoscope pipe, comprising: anobservation window on a distal end of the endoscope pipe, theobservation window having a window axis extending between a proximal endand an opposing distal end of the observation window, the distal end ofthe endoscope pipe having an outer surface that is curved along adirection of the window axis; a first fiberoptic bundle having a sidesurface extending between a proximal end surface and an opposing distalend surface of the first fiberoptic bundle, and a first distal end angledefined between the side surface and the distal end surface of the firstfiberoptic bundle; a second fiberoptic bundle having a side surfaceextending between a proximal end surface and an opposing distal endsurface of the second fiberoptic bundle, and a second distal end angledefined between the side surface and the distal end surface of thesecond fiberoptic bundle; a first light outlet opening formed in theouter surface of the distal end of the endoscope pipe close to theobservation window and configured to hold a distal end portion of thefirst fiberoptic bundle, the first light outlet opening at a firstdistance from the proximal end of the observation window in a directionof the window axis; and a second light outlet opening formed in theouter surface of the distal end of the endoscope pipe close to theobservation window and configured to hold a second distal end portion ofthe second fiberoptic bundle, the second light outlet opening at asecond distance from the proximal end of the observation window in thedirection of the window axis, wherein the second distance is less thanthe first distance; the first distal end angle and the second distal endangle having respective magnitudes not equal to 90 degrees, such thatlight is refracted at the distal end surfaces of the first and secondfiberoptic bundles, and such that light emitted from the distal endsurface of the first fiberoptic bundle radiates out of the first lightoutlet opening into an angle area observed through the observationwindow in a first direction, and light emitted from the distal endsurface of the second fiberoptic bundle radiates out of the second lightoutlet opening into the angle area observed through the observationwindow in a second direction different than the first direction.
 2. Theendoscope pipe of claim 1, wherein the first fiberoptic bundle includesa plurality of first fiberoptic fibers and the second fiberoptic bundleincludes a plurality of second fiberoptic fibers.
 3. The endoscope pipeof claim 1, wherein the observation window is curved along the windowaxis.
 4. The endoscope pipe of claim 3, wherein the observation windowis continuously curved along the window axis.
 5. The endoscope pipe ofclaim 1, wherein the observation window has a first side and an opposingsecond side each extending between the proximal end and the distal endof the observation window; wherein the first light outlet opening isformed in the outer surface of the distal end of the endoscope pipealong the first side of the observation window; and wherein the secondlight outlet opening is formed in the outer surface of the distal end ofthe endoscope pipe along the second side of the observation window.